Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CYPERMETHRIN INDUCED THE TEMPORAL EXPRESSION CHANGES OF THE STRESS RESPONSE AND OSMOREGULATION RELATED GENES IN THE ASIAN SEABASS (LATES CALCARIFER)

Rachanimuk Hiransuchalert, Napaporn Leadprathom, Thiamjun Suwunnarod, Grittaya Srimongkol and Sripapan Taranart

Abstract

This study is a preliminary assessment of the effect of the low sub-acute concentrations of Cypermethrin on expression patterns of genes involving osmo regulation and stress response of the Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer). Fish were treated with sub-lethal doses of low concentrations (0.5 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L) of Cypermethrin continuously for 7 days. Gills of four fish from each group including controlled group (0 mg/L of Cypermethrin) were collected at 4 and 7 days after exposure to Cypermethrin and the total RNA were extracted. The diluted-cDNA synthesized from that total RNA was used for semi quantitative RTPCR. The primer pairs for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD), sodium potassium ATPase a1 (Na+K+ATPase a1), sodium potassium chloride cotransporter (NKCC) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of L. calcarifer were designed. The result showed the expression levels of NKCC in fish exposed to 2.5 mg/L Cypermethrin at day 4 days, were significantly higher than control and 0.5 mg/L Cypermethrin (p<0.05). The expression levels of CuZnSOD, MnSOD and Na+K+ATPase a1 in fish exposed to 0.5 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L Cypermethrin at day 7 days were significantly higher than control (p<0.05). However, the expression levels of HSP70 between fish collected at day 4 and 7 days were not significantly different (p>0.05). The results of this study reveal the possibility of using these genes as biological markers for monitoring the impact of Cypermethrin on this economically important species in culture system.